Let me make a word of note, however. It is only web-apps that have been coded to go fullscreen that will work without Safari. The idea is to make the web apps feel more like native iPhone applications.

If you want to see your apps in fullscreen, try out the following step-by-step guide from IntoMobile:

• Fire up your iPhone’s Safari browser
• Navigate to “http://webapp.net.free.fr/Demo/Index.html”
• Save the webpage/web-app to your homescreen
• Hit the “+” button along the bottom navigation bar
• Select “Save to Homescreen”
• Go back to your homescreen and fire up the newly saved web-app
• Enjoy using the web-app in full-screen mode with 100% less Safari – Notice the absence of any browser navigation controls (URL field, bookmark button,etc.)

[via IntoMobile]

This firmware was called a “big update” because it addresses several of the issues users have been experiencing. Big fixes being the primary focus, Jobs noted the major areas addressed including battery life, app crashes, back up lag and dropped calls.

But that was it, really. This was truly a music event and Apple stayed on target with their message. Prior to the event, rock music was blasting. But the show ended with a performance by Jack Johnson. Nothing against Jack Johnson, but “rock?” Really?

Stay tuned for a recap of the day’s events including the details on the iPod nano and iPod touch updates.

[via SlashGear]

Lots of Apple industry news to report. First, a pay-as-you-go plan for the iPhone 3G is set to launch on the carrier O2. The eastern European sales figures for the device have been rather disappointing on the global scale and China Mobile and Apple are still in talks to try and figure out how to bring the iPhone to the country.

Best Buy is officially going to be a retailer for the iPhone 3G, and they will even set up the phone for you and your email for free, that is, if you buy an accessory package. Another angry iPhone user is suing the company but the reasoning this time is rather interesting. They are claiming Apple and AT&T knowingly sold more iPhones than their network could allow, making for shoddy service all around. Apple has also filed a patent for a multi-touch plus function that would combine touch gestures with other actions like speaking.

EA Mobile will be bringing Spore Origins to the iPhone shortly along with a variety of other EA games like The Sims 3. Two new home automation control systems have also come to the iPhone this week, allowing those with home automation devices like Control4 or Crestron Control to manage the systems by means of an app on their phones. Some developers have been getting their apps rejected from the App Store because their creations have “limited utility.” Plus, the Phonofone II is a super expensive iPod dock that nostalgia lovers and gadget enthusiasts alike will adore.

We also found out that an Apple iPod event is set to happen on September 9th. Much speculation has covered iPhone Buzz about what that event will or will not contain, but we do know a completely retooled iPod nano should make its debut and the iPod touch will get a minor facelift. Dimensions of both devices leaked this week, as well. We also learned that iPhone 2.1 firmware may be released as well as iTunes 8.0. And be sure to check in on all the happenings by watching our live coverage of the iPod event on Tuesday at 10 a.m. PST at http://live.slashgear.com/.

We’ll most likely see iTunes 8.0 released on September 9th, which is expected to have a few new cool features like “Genius,” which recommends music to you, HD-quality TV episodes for purchase and grid view.

We may also see the release of iPhone 2.1 firmware, which could bring significant changes to the iPhone and perhaps put to rest a few of the issues it has currently been having. Background push notification is expected to be added along with directional GPS. Developer seeds may not have gotten all that Apple is planning, either, so a few surprises could be in store.

[via iPodNN]

It looks like Apple is moving right along with updates, as the iPhone 2.1 beta 3 firmware has just been seeded to developers. 

The beta is meant for developers to test, only. However, phones that have been updated to this new version cannot be used to develop apps for the App Store. Likewise, once you update, your phone cannot be reverted back to the old version, so update with caution, developers. 

Word has it that the update contains numerous bug fixes and beginning support for background notifications. 

[via TUAW]

In addition to the new iPhone 2.1 firmware, Apple also seeded a new version of iPhone SDK but it cannot be used to submit applications to existing AppStore.

Theirs is also a rumor that Apple has also added early Push Notification APIs that allows applications to process notifications in the background. If you followed iPhone Buzz’s livecast of WWDC 2008, you would have remembered that Apple had promised the availability of Push Notification by September time frame.